I'm coming out of the dead to leave this review because I hope it helps someone who is thinking about seeking professional training for their dog(s). We are not new dog owners and with our previous dog, we lived the best life - traveling across US and Canada, flying on planes, staying in hotels, dining at Michelin star restaurants, going to work at the office, walking off leash, etc - with zero professional training. He actually was a puppy school drop out! We learned that all dogs are different and with our new pups, we needed help on dealing with behavioral issues like reactivity. Through positive reinforcement, Amy coached us on how to loose leash walk our dogs in heel position. She also showed us how to do "place" work, use spatial pressure and how to get our dogs to focus on us around distractions. We also learned how to turn up our praising game verbally and with treats! Trainings were mainly at Butcher Park which is a very high pressure environment given the amount of dogs at any given time. It really put us to the test and honestly, we were challenged! It's hard work. We had homework after each lesson, but we committed to practicing in between lessons. We weren't perfect but we always showed up ready to learn, and to give and receive feedback each time with the goal of growing and improving. We ended up doing "board and train" for both of our dogs (one at a time) and we couldn't have been more pleased with the outcome. We needed a jumpstart and Amy gave us the knowledge and tools to set us up for how we want to live our lives with our French bulldogs. She truly loves dogs and wants the best for them and their owners. We highly recommend Amy! read more

I hardly ever leave reviews, but I want to give hope to anyone who is struggling with their dog and feeling frustrated and helpless. The first year with my golden retriever, Luka, was extremely hard. He was a mouthy dog who had zero boundaries at home or outside. He would get excited or frustrated and grab/bite onto my shoes or clothes daily. Walking him became an impossible task because he was extremely dog-reactive, and he dragged me a couple of times while trying to chase another dog. Walking him also became a two-person job, with someone always on the lookout for other dogs so we could turn the other way. He also began to resource guard and snapped at my dad twice.. I had already spent thousands on another trainer and didn't have much success. I began to feel like this was just what life with Luka would be like forever. It got to the point where I felt scared of him, and the life I was giving him out of that fear wasn't fair to him. So I decided to try and get help one last time. I found Lori's page and after reading the reviews I became hopeful again. I took Luka in for an evaluation, and Lori recommended their board-and-train program. I can't thank Chelsea and Lori enough for everything they've done. I've learned so much about Luka, how to manage different situations, and how to better understand his behavior. We had training lessons throughout his board-and-train stay and afterward, because we are the ones who need most of the training! Chelsea did an amazing job with Luka. At home, Luka is unrecognizable in the best way. We can actually go on adventures outside without being terrified that we won't be able to handle him. Those who knew Luka before his stay and see him now always comment on how well he is doing. I cannot recommend Lori Hamilton's Dog training enough to anyone who feels like they've tried everything and is feeling discouraged. I am so thankful because it finally feels like Luka and I can start living life and enjoying everything around us. read more

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We learned lots of great skills with our 4-week board and train program. Our dog walks very nicely on the leash now, greets people much more nicely without all the jumping and barking, ignores other dogs if there's enough space. Much better, she doesn't go bonkers at the sight of another dog. We're very pleased with the results and will continue working on our skills. read more

This review is long overdue. And one will understand why when they finish reading this review. Do not fall for their success stories, testimonials, publicity, fame, etc. Their website has changed from last fall/winter 2025. They had YouTube videos of their training (videos still active on YouTube website) as well as being interviewed by tv station (https://youtu.be/HfhZbTuIAPA?si=ec-mDnkjKXPa6zUE). Their "accolades" are MISLEADING. Second, the comments in the poorest ratings reviews are absolutely 100% true: condescending tone, treats everyone like an idiot, no manners, rude, and even causes trauma to owner and dog. My experiences with the head trainer and owner of facility (whom I will not type her name because she DOES NOT deserve the recognition by name) were downright awful for me and my pup. I paid upfront for 5 sessions but after the 2nd session, I stopped attending. It was too much trauma for my then 5 months old pup and myself. As one reviewer put it, the trainer/owner "break(s) dog's spirit." The first negative experience with trainer/owner was within 10 minutes of the 1st session when she said aloud my leash is "yuck." She walked away from me, leaving me embarrassed. She went to get a leash from her personal collection and with a negative tone told me to put on said leash. There was no explanation to this new leash or why my leash was "yuck." Because I believed she was the "expert," I immediately followed orders. It was 15-20 minutes later she explained why my leash was "yuck." Couldn't she have said in at least an encouraging (or neutral) tone "you may want to consider another type of leash because..."? But she didn't consider her words carefully. Instead, she used her age as an excuse because she has "no filter." Yes, trainer/owner said "I'm ___ years; I have no filter." Regardless of one's age, you should treat everyone with respect. The age-old wisdom of "think before you speak" speaks volumes. The owner needs to practice this. As well as practice people skills. Owner talks to you. Not with you. Owner talks in your face. Not provides you space. A trainer is equivalent to a teacher. A teacher guides. A teacher explains. A teacher is patient. A teacher motivates. The owner of this facility does not demonstrate any of these characteristics. Please, seek dog training elsewhere. NOTE: Follow-up. Not an edit. I believe this is the only way to reply to the recent post of owner. I will not message directly via Yelp or contact them with the email provided. Their attempt in extending the proverbial olive branch publicly is merely to save face. The damage is done. The review remains. read more

Lori helped transform our 1.5-year-old golden retriever Ruben from an 87# spirited, jumping, land shark to a calm, obedient family member. He was an anxious, leash pulling, cat chasing, chewing, biting and jumping-- hiding inside an adorable shell. We started in Lori's group class, then did private one on one training with her and ultimately 4 weeks of board and train at her facility. She trained us and trained him and ultimately transformed life at home. Our 3 cats are now able to be in the same room as him. Our visitors no longer have him standing up on their chest in exuberant greeting. We can relax and have dinner without Ruben trying to eat our feet or running zoomies around the room. We can walk him without having our arms ripped out of our sockets. He is calm around other dogs. He is crate trained and easily goes to sleep at night. He has his own treadmill and works out twice a day, in addition to our daily walks. We been to Pack walks with Lori and 15 other dogs, all walking obediently through the Pruneyard shopping center. The dogs get to work on socialization and good manners on these field trips. Lori came to our house and we staged a meal with a visitor. It really helped us learn how to keep him on his best behavior during meal time with a guest!!! Our first year with Ruben was really tough, he was not the mellow golden retriever we anticipated. Lori's teaching changed everything. She provided the methods and the tools to help us have the best outcome and a relaxed home life with our beautiful dog; more than we ever expected!!! read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Staying calm!!! - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Lori Hamilton is a dog whisper! I got news that a young man in Fresno was breeding English Cream Retrievers and was being evicted from his home. He was supporting his Mother and young sister. There were two 4 months old puppies that had contracted parvo which he treated with antibiotics. He was unable to sell so he was going to put them in a shelter by 2pm that day as he had to be out of his home. I drove from San Jose and rescued the pup's. Upon arriving home they had severe food insecurity, and began chewing on EVERYTHING! We had to gate them out of everywhere but the kitchen and dinning room. So began crate training. Their first trip to the vet came next and were diagnosed with Giardia. Our vet also suggested that Immediate training would be necessary because aggressive behavior would be imminent with siblings. Unfortunately, we would have to wait until the Giardia was cleared. 3 months and 2 bouts later, we were finally able to take them to a 5 week training course once a week. Unfortunately this did not produce the results we were hoping for. Enter Lori Hamilton's dog training. She invited us to her new facility for free evaluation. Right off the bat, she recognized behavioral issues between the male and female. Lola and Mylo. Durning that first evaluation, Lori was able to get Mylo to walk on the leash without him pulling her around. She suggested that a 4 week board and train would be best for a 63lb female and a 72lb male at 8 Mos. She also suggested that they be separated during this time. I was devastated but eventually agreed. One of her trainers Angelia,lived in Gilroy and would take Lola. Mylo would go to the training facility with Lori and Chelsea. On the day that Angelia and Chelsea came to pick Lola up to take her to Gilroy,they were both amazed and frightened at the fact that Lola actually jumped up on our kitchen table several times to greet them. I think Angelia may have asked herself. What did I get into? Lori invited me out to the facility after 2weeks, to see the progress that Mylo has made. He was running on a treadmill with his friend the boxer Lenny. He was also obeying commands such as sit down and place. I was also updated with Lola's progress by daily videos from Angelia. Chelsea set up a WhatsApp so that we could see the progress of both dogs on a daily basis. I can't tell you how much that meant to see my puppies on daily basis and how they were doing. Soon after that, my wife and I were invited to join in on training with both of the our dogs. Lori made it very clear that most of the training had to come with us. We had to be trained. In the following weeks, Lori and Chelsea offered additional training with me and my wife at various places such as Bass Pro, Pet Express, Butcher park, and the LHDT facility as follow up. No charge! Over the past 2 months I have learned that Lori is a pack leader. Her training and her staff have made my babies balanced an obedient. I would highly recommend to my friend's, family, and anybody out there that wants to bring pet balance into your life. Lori saved me from having to re-home home one of my puppies. read more

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My partner and I took our 9 month old pup to Lori for a 6 week board and train. Our girl was extremely reactive, we couldn't take her on walks or do much of anything because of how fearful and out of control she was. We wanted to help her and make sure her needs were met, but we were struggling. When we saw her after the program, the progress was incredible. She came back calmer, more confident, and so much easier to handle. We were extremely impressed and grateful for the work Lori put in. She truly is a talented trainer who knows how to bring out the best in dogs. We did experience a few challenges along the way. At times, scheduling and communication felt a bit disorganized, and there were moments when Lori's tone came across in a way that felt a little discouraging. I completely understand she has a busy schedule and a lot of clients, but those moments stood out during what was otherwise a very positive experience. Overall, we are very thankful for Lori's help and the transformation she gave our pup. She is a great dog trainer, though her people skills could be improved. We appreciate all she did for our girl and don't want to diminish her, but we wanted to share an honest reflection of our experience. read more

Recently we rescued a pocket boxer ( 1/2 Boxer 1/2 French American Bulldog) From Norcal Boxer Rescue. We wanted a dog to take out in public places and restaurants and events without stress and bad behavior, this poor girl came from a very bad situation and was afraid of everything and aggressive towards other dogs and some people and a bit unruly when people came over. but after having classes with Lori Hamilton's dog training and the amazing trainer Amy (A true dog whisperer) we have a new happy dog! Spice is well behaved in public polite at dog friendly restaurants and people, Spice listens very well and I know as time goes and she gets more confident in her new home with us she will continue to shine!!! Thankyou to Amy for your patience, guidance and true compassion for dogs. I was a vet tech for 30 years and I truly was amazed on how these dogs transitioned to who we wanted them to be. I loved the pack walk field trip it was so cool and all the dogs approximately 15 dogs walked together and were A students today! Photos to follow read more

I began training with Amy from LHDT when my puppy was 6 months old, and it has been the best decision for him. I am very pleased with the results and thrilled to have such a well-behaved dog. read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Amazing and totally involved! We found Lori through Yelp, and were convinced by watching videos on her website. We had adopted a shelter puppy who we were told would be 60 pounds, but seemed to be growing at a much faster rate than we expected. He is a sweetheart, but can be very domineering when he sees something he wants. And he was rapidly becoming too strong to easily control. Lori instantly took over on our first visit, and we saw our pup truly respond for the first time to somebody controlling him, rather than the way he wanted it. Lori instantly recognized something was off, and led us to correctly diagnose his breed (Anatolian shepherd) within minutes of meeting him. We were shocked to find out he might grow to 150 pounds, but instantly glad that we were getting him the training he (and we) needed. They boarded and trained him for a month. The dog is now a totally different dog. They almost completely changed his behavior and responsiveness. At the same time, they have spent a number of training sessions with us, to enable us to be responsible dog owners. Lori and her assistant Chelsy have been completely involved, making sure we know what we are doing, how to recognize behavioral issues and address them, and how to keep the big guy happy. They have answered questions about equipment, food, travel, and safety. Every time we go to train, Lori and her team has a number of dogs they are working with. All of these dogs behave almost perfectly, even with all of the other dogs surrounding them. We cannot recognize or recommend Lori enough. She is a true pro, and we have a magnificent and happy dog thanks to her and Chelsy. Her service should be considered by everybody who wants to share a happy life with a well-behaved dog. read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

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I at first thought that Lori was the answer to my fear based aggressive dogs issues. We met at my house, my office and a very busy park near her home. I have a very reactive and large Cane Corso who as she got older, became less and less friendly with new people and dogs. It was difficult and my guilt was immense because she had no social life. Lori came to my home and convinced me that Gracie could be cured but it would costs thousands of dollars. $3300 to be exact. I was a single mom with a child in school and totally on my own financially so that is a huge amount of money to me. But I decided we had to move forward with the training. During training, Lori came to my office to see how Gracie behaved at work. She had a co-worker come into our very small office space with my dog under her control and gave him specific direction which he followed. Al was promptly bitten by Gracie. Red flag number one. I still trusted her. She suggested my housemate come to the park and train with us. She guided my friend and Gracie around the basketball court giving instruction and to me, all looked well. She cut the session short and told me he could not handle her and the situation was dangerous for my housemate. Which was odd because Gracie LOVED Cesar. They had never had a single issue. And never did have a single incident. Red flag number 2. There is definitely an ego issue when you question her. Lori then suggested that Gracie come stay with her and train in her home. It was intense there. A lot of dogs and crates all in her living room. I was worried for the other dogs because Gracie was 135lbs at that time and pure muscle. I paid Lori over $3300 and a he allowed me to make $500 payments which I appreciated a lot!!! When I got Gracie back from Lori after a 5 day stay and I was surprised at her behavior. She did seem less afraid and I was told she was playing well with Lori's two large poodles. We went home and snuggled on the sofa. I had missed her terribly. She was crying and so glad to be home!!! As she laid her head in my lap I reached down to scratch her chin and jowls which she loves but she cried out. I gently rubbed my hand down her chin and neck and felt scabs. I thought oh no, she has a rash or something but on closer inspection, I saw probably a dozen deep bloody lines about 3"-5" long. Idk which trainer it was, I just know that someone in Lori's employ was very very heavy handed with the metal prong collar. She calls it her "listening collar." It took 3 weeks for those deep wounds to heal. It took longer for my daughter and I to get over that Gracie had been mistreated to the point of bloody wounds. I cannot imagine how frustrated someone must have been to do that to her. That was abuse, not training. And perhaps if they had pointed it out to me, I would not have been quite as upset. So it was either hidden in hopes I would not notice or they didn't even know that they wrenched Gracie by the THROAT that aggressively. Disgusting either way. Gracie has never been the same. When I went back to her home to confront her, I was told she was very sick and having surgery. I did not finish the final 3 park lessons I paid for. I never heard from them again. read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Gracie girl. - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

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I recommend Lori Hamiton's Dog Training. Our trainer, Amy, is amazing. She helped us with our stubborn Siberian Husky puppy. We are so glad we picked the right trainer! read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training saved us! In June we adopted a four-month old puppy from Silicon Valley Humane Society named Frank. He was about 50 pounds when he came home and quickly grew to 65 pounds and was terrified of new situations so his response was to "pancake" - going out the front door, walking in the kitchen, getting near a car, etc. Two months in we knew we needed more help than the standard puppy training and treat only approach. Going on a walk was dangerous with him zig zagging in front and pulling or dragging us to get to the park or see another dog. Also, he was intent on eating things he shouldn't like rocks, bark, leaves, etc. We were in way over our heads. Lori assessed us with Frank and gave us options on how we could improve his behavior and our communication with him. We opted for her three-week board and train program. She matched us with an amazing trainer on her staff, Chelsea, and Frank is a changed dog! Not only has he has been trained, but so have we in one-on-one sessions and the transformation is nothing short of amazing. He walks on a loose leash, will stay in place on an elevated cot while we work, and now has good recall. We have been given a great toolbox of resources versus just yanking him with the leash. Chelsey was the perfect match for us and Frank. She had him in her home during the training and treated him with love and taught him (and us) so much. Thank you, Chelsea and Lori! read more

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We had an extreme dog situation with my son's dog Rolo. Rolo was a shelter dog who was used as a bait dog for a dog fighting ring. His behavior with other dogs was terrible. We took him to Lori and her team and they immediately advised that Rolo needed sleep away camp with Lori. OMG- he came home so great! We worked with Lori and her team to get Rolo to be able to interact with other dogs and be able to redirect him properly when he showed any signs of anxiety. We can not say enough about the amazing training we all got with Lori. I would highly recommend this trainer!!! read more

Lori has helped to transform my dog, Magnus. Before Lori, Magnus was terrified to even go near a dog park. Entering the off-leash area of a dog park was not an option. Magnus pulled on the leash during walks and I couldn't trust her around other dogs. Today, Magnus is a completely different dog. Her obedience has improved tenfold. She is confident, relaxed, happy. I am proud to say that I've learned a whole new way of interacting with and relating to Magnus. Looking forward to learning more! read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Magnus - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Amy at LHDT transformed our jumping, hyper-excited, and stubborn little Boston Terrier, Del, into a calm and obedient little gentleman who we can now take anywhere! We couldn't be any happier! I HIGHLY recommend Amy for any stubborn dog training! Thank you, Amy!! read more

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TLDR: Old school approach to dog training which may not be the right approach for sensitive and/or small dogs. Reading through the many positive reviews, I'm not sure if this is a one-off situation with my dog class or if this is how all LHDT dog classes typically go. I don't mean to sound overly harsh, but my experience with Amy's Basic Obedience training left me with the impression that she neither likes dogs or people. Classes are 10 dogs per class and it can be a bit difficult to hear. There is no attempt to learn any names. Dogs are not allowed to socialize with each other, which makes sense since there was no need to provide proof of immunization. During the class, you learn basics like down stays, place, etc. Class goes by slowly because each dog needs to demonstrate and receive corrections from Amy (which can take a long time since it is mostly negative reinforcement). My pup was one of the more advanced dogs in class, but that did not leave us immune from "pops" from Amy. I have a generally obedient toy poodle who knows down, stay, place, etc. thanks to prior training. Whenever we were demonstrating ...if he would get out of his "stay" she would grab his leash and pop him so harshly he would recoil, leaving him in such a terrified state that he is now legit afraid of her. He no longer is excited when we pull into Butcher Park. So as of this week... we are drop-outs. I really feel like I failed my dog by signing him up for this class and would STRONGLY caution others from considering this kind of training if you have a shy, timid, or small dog. read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Basic Obedience Class at Butcher Park - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

This review isn't really about Lori's character. I only had interaction with her at the park for dog training and she was always friendly and likable. This review is a warning for anyone with a small dog who wants LHDT to train their dog. Every time I sat down to type my review, I'd start to cry, so it's taken me awhile to be able to type this. Reading another review, a person referred to what I would call "snapping" or "yanking" a dog's neck with a leash attached to a collar, as "popping", so I will refer to it as that. During training, I was instructed to put my dog's collar on and walk with him. If he got out of step with me I was to pop his neck, meaning yank on the leash to get him back in step and stay close to me while walking. I am blaming myself for agreeing that this was "ok" but I really wanted my dog to mind as he had a tendency to bolt away when off leash and didn't listen to instructions too well. I stopped the training after a few weeks and thought everything was ok until it wasn't. As time went on, I saw different behavior in my dog; not bad behavior just not himself. He had a hard time running to catch a ball as he seemed exhausted after a few throws. I started seeing him having a hard time swallowing some food, witnessed a couple of seizures and he began having coughing spells that he never had before. I took him to our vet who said there were issues with his throat and that he would probably need surgery. I asked if the throat issues could possibly have been from yanking on his neck when wearing a collar and she said absolutely yanking or popping his neck could have caused the damage. Sadly, we had to put him down due to his damaged neck as I couldn't bear to see him suffer. Possibly this type of training with a pit bull or other dog with a very strong neck wouldn't have been damaging, but before you use ANY type of training, please talk to your vet first and ask if it could be detrimental to your dog no matter how large the dog is. I'm sorry this took me so long to write, but you can understand how devastated I was as our little dog was a wonderful companion who loved everyone and I miss him every day! read more

The team at Lori Hamilton's dog training was amazing I recommend anybody that is struggling to train their dogs to bring dog here

Lori and her team far exceeded our expectations! We couldn't be more pleased. At 10 1/2 months old, our Standard Poodle, Phoebe Joi, knew basic commands, but didn't always choose to listen. Her recall was non-existent and she was overly-overly excited and friendly to meet other people and other dogs. We knew we needed the help of a professional trainer to redirect and fine-tune her behavior. That's when we met Lori. We visited her facility - it was clean, organized, and safe. She and her team are professional, knowledgeable, and patient with the dogs and their owners. We enrolled in her 4-wk Board and Train Program during which Lori and Chelsea put their dog training skills on display, including dedicating time to ensure that we, too, were trained! Phoebe Joi came home a couple of weeks ago and we still have check-ins and participate in field trips with other humans and canines in training! In 2 days, Phoebe Joi will be 1 yr old, and WOW, the transformation is impressive. She is now as well behaved as she is gorgeous! Thank you Lori and Team. read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Phoebe Joi after a 4-week Board and Train program with Lori and Team. - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

I can not be more satisfied with Lori Hamilton's Trainers! Prior to taking both group classes, our German Shepherd mix, Indi, was reactive on leash, pulling on walks, and obedient in the home setting (but not in public settings). I have always wanted a pup I could take ANYWHERE and that is the dog I have today thanks to Lori, Amy, and all the other trainers who helped! The first group class had a larger group, but it was wonderful to train Indi around other dogs to work on her reactivity and obedience in such a distracting setting. The second class with Amy was the game changer. Amy was so patient, clear, and helpful! We worked on reactivity, pulling, whining, place training, recall, and off-leash work. With a field-trip built into class #2, I learned how to handle my dog in public settings. Indi has now gone to downtown settings and restaurants without reactivity or pulling! Amy made a huge effort to know all the dog's AND owner's names (given she has many classes and only sees us once a week). She placed importance on knowing what your dog is able to take. She made it clear if you have a more sensitive dog, you will have to adapt your corrections to meet their confidence/sensitivity levels. We loved coming to her class every week! If you are on the fence, I would say go for it! The prices are extremely fair and the trainers are well experienced. I will definitely be coming back for future pups that join our family! read more

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Lori Hamilton We brought Lori a challenge - a reactive, strong willed border collie who would lung at children, squirrels, and who was unwalkable. Cue Lori Hamilton. After our dog completed her board and train as well as four private lessons, our dog walks on heel, stays on her bed until released, and can walk by squirrels, crows and people with ease. We can even take our dog out to dinner and she remains calm. Lori was determined to make our dog a success. I can confidently say that this investment was worth every penny. Not only that but personally I've learned how to train and lead a dog well. I can't thank Lori enough for her patience and determination. If you need a dog trainer, look no further than Lori. read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Our dog at the apple store. - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

I'm not sure how to put this in words how much I love this dog training program and the trainers! Today I had another puppy to train, returned here because of the wonderful experience I had with one of my chihuahuas who after years still follows my orders and placing. If you are looking for a dog trainer, don't walk, RUN to Lori Hamilton dog training :) read more

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Our pup was very dog reactive on the leash when we first signed up. She would bark, scream, growl, and lunge at other dogs during walks. It made taking her out very stressful, every-time we saw another dog we had to avoid it at all costs. When we first met our trainer, Amy, she was very understanding and explained the process. She took the time to get to know Koda (our pup) and implemented methods that worked for us. We started with a prong collar and that helped tremendously. With the collar, Koda learned not to tug on the leash, walk by our side / heel, sit when we come to a stop, and to pay attention to me during walks. Amy not afraid to tell you what your doing wrong and how to correct it. She makes sure we implementing correct corrections with the collar and teaches us safe methods to implement. After just 2 training sessions... Koda was a new pup! As we progressed with the training, it was recommend we use a stimulation collar with Koda since she would still sometimes show aggression to other dogs on the leash. Amy took her time to figure out Kodas working level and made sure that she was comfortable and not being hurt. She also took the time to train me with how to use the remote when to tap it. After just a few sessions with the stimulation collar, Kodas reactivity to other dogs was reduced dramatically! We've been able to take her to parks off leash, hiking, and so much more. She even learned recall/here and is so responsive. We just completed our 11th session with Amy and it's amazing to see the progress Koda has made. Never in a million years did I think we would get to this stage. Amy has definitely made a huge impact on our lives. Kodas behavior is like night and day now, she's improved 500% and our stress of taking her out with other dogs has been tremendously reduced. Thank you so much Amy and Lori Hamilton's Dog Training. read more

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Lori is instinctive and effective as a dog trainer. She taught my Golden Retriever to "heel" off-leash in 5 minutes !!!

I've never left a review on yelp, but after completing training levels one and two with our 6-month-old bernedoodle, I have to gush about this program and Amy. From day one when Amy walked in with her (beautiful) perfectly trained pitbull by her side, completely engaged, calm, and attentive to her, we had full confidence in our investment in the training and what she could teach us, and boy were we right. We learned valuable commands from Amy in level one training, specifically the basics of training your dog (how to reinforce good behaviors and correct bad ones) and teaching them the command "place". Things advanced big time in level two training. We were taught to use the proper equipment customized to what's best for our dog and we were taught how to handle our dog in the real world so they're by your side, attentive and calm. After graduating with our pup, we put what we had learned and had been practicing to the test by taking her camping for the first time and our dog exceeded our expectations thanks to Amy. She was attentive to us, confident around other dogs, and calm in a totally new place because we set her up for success in working with Amy. This program is an investment, and in order to be successful in this program you need to put your faith into your trainer, listen to what they say, trust that they understand how dogs really work. read and follow the helpful guides they provide, and most importantly practice. If you're debating whether or not to invest in dog training with this program, do it. You won't regret it! read more

A BIG Shout out to Mariah of Lori Hamilton's Dog Training. Before we did a board and train with her, our dog Xena had some pretty traumatic experiences which made her scared of everything. She would not go into our garage, jump up into our car and afraid to go any wear beside our house. When going outside to take a walk she was complete terrified and was uncontrollable on walks. Xena now loves to go on walks with out pulling, jumps up in the car and excited to go place now. Her mind is in a much better place and she is much happier dog. We owe all of this to Moriah. We could have never done this with out her. You are amazing, kind, loving and very easy to work with dog trainer. We highly recommend Moriah! read more

I don't normally write reviews, but as a grateful client of Lori Hamilton's Dog Training I felt it was warranted. I had training for my very insecure, but very smart female Shiba done with Amy Gist and it was night and day as to the progress achieved during our classes. I am able to take my dog out normally now whereas I wasn't able to before...she was always scared and had no discipline. She is a different dog now! Amy helped so much in guiding not only my dog but me as well. I highly recommend everyone looking for a trainer to take their dog to Lori's training program. It is WELL WORTH IT! read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Our family adopted Bunny about 5 weeks ago and she's now a totally different dog! She was super sweet inside our home but outside...? Hooooweeeee... it was like we were trying to walk a wild, vicious animal. She'd bark and lunge at people and dogs alike and it was virtually impossible to enjoy our time with her -- we knew we had to do SOMETHING. We'd heard great things about Lori's training and I can't recommend it enough! Bunny boarded for two weeks with one her trainers -- Harry -- and it's been a really wonderful experience. Harry is not only an incredibly talented dog trainer but he's also just a straight-up nice guy. Because he so obviously loves dogs, his enthusiasm for his chosen career shines through during every training session. Bunny is now a joy to have at home AND to take out for walks. She's calm and well-mannered in every situation, and our family is so happy to have her! Thanks Harry! read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Harry, Bunny and me! - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Amy was our trainer and she is the best. Our rescue dog was reactive and uncontrollable. He did board and train with her and we continue to attend the pack walk field trips to tune things up. She is direct but she tells you what you need to hear. I feel I have the tools to have a calm dog that listens to me and it's changed our relationship for the better. read more

My dog Jack is a King Charles Cavalier spaniel born right before the pandemic, and thus raised in a period with limited exposure to other dogs and people. As Jack and I went for walks, he showed aggressive/defensive behavior much more often than I liked, so I sought dog training with Lori Hamilton's dog trainers. Lori assigned Mariah to assist us and she did a fabulous job teaching me my role versus teaching Jack his role. Mariah was fun, attentive, pateint and encouraging. Within the first few training sessions I saw marked improvement on how Jack and I handled interactions during walks. The solution was part having the right equipment, rewarding the right behavior and establishing effective communication between me and Jack. Mariah made our training easy and enjoyable, removing my previous angst when walking Jack. I highly receommend her as a dog trainer!! read more

Jennifer was our dog Leo's trainer and she was wonderful to work with! She was super kind and patient with us as new dog owners and helped us a lot. She was super helpful in showing us how to properly walk Leo and gave us tips on managing his behavioral issues. When he was with us before the Board and Training, he was pretty crazy and super aggressive and out of control. After doing the board and training with Jennifer, he was great!! No more barking and lunging at other dogs and people-he learned to just mind his own business, and he was a lot more obedient. If you need a trainer, Jennifer is great! Pic of Leo below hehe read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

I can't say enough good things about this dog training service. I had my beagle mix Belle do a 2 week board and train with ongoing private training sessions. Belle's trainer was Amy and she was/is fantastic. We've done a couple of field trips for her to get used distractions and other dogs. Belle loves Amy and gets excited when she sees her. Belle's progress has been amazing. She truly is becoming a dog that I can take anywhere. I highly recommend looking into their services. They offer group classes, private lessons and more. read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Belle behaving well while I had lunch with my husband. - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Our border collie was people and dog reactive on walks, would lunge at children running (she wanted to herd them) and was super possessive of food and water sources when around other dogs. She had a hard time playing well with other dogs, and couldn't stay home alone without crying the whole time. I was 7 months pregnant and we decided we needed help or else we would have to give our dog up. Enter Lori.... after our first consult (consult! Not even lesson!) we could walk our dog *so* much more easily. We took 5 private lessons and then did the 2 week training program... wow. Just wow. Our dog looooves Lori (honestly she seemed kind of bummed to go home with us when I picked her up) and is frankly pretty perfectly behaved now. Our BC loves her new baby brother and we still work daily on the lessons Lori taught us. Could not recommend Lori and her team more highly. read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

The worst conversation I had, very rude business owner, The worst conversation I had, very rude business owner, She give trauma to my daughter after hearing our conversation. read more

I reached out for training because my dog Pudge started becoming reactive to other dogs. I got to work with Amy for a little over a month doing one on one sessions & later did field trips with other dogs/clients of hers. My dog's behavior improved significantly!! I'm able to take her out to more places and feel more comfortable/confident even if other dogs will be around. Amy taught us so much and I know by continuing to practice everything with Pudge she'll only get better and better! I'm super grateful we decided to do training with Amy and would highly recommend it to others considering training for their dog! read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Pudge on her last field trip in downtown Campbell, so many people and other dogs around and she did so well!! - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Amy at Lori hamilton dog training is the best! We had a devil of a little dog that was driving us nuts...after training with Amy we are all getting along much better! 5+ stars! read more

I started with Lori Hamilton's program about 8weeks ago. I can't say enough good things about our trainer, Amy Gist. She really helped my puppy, Rylie, become more confident and calm in situations that she thought were very scary. Rylie can now do a down stay in a store and be calm while I shop and walk around. She also is doing so much better with walking and heeling vs pulling. I am so happy that I did this training so I can enjoy Rylie and bring her more places. Amy really helped me on how to handle various situations based on my dogs personality and downfalls. I highly recommend Lori Hamilton's program. read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Rylie doing a downstay - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

We went trough training with our dog Murphy from introduction / puppy social to puppy class, and followed with a personal trainer from Lori's team, Danyel. I recommend all of the above. - Puppy social was a great introduction to Lori's method. It was very clear to us that we had work to do, as Murphy was very skittish, barking at other dogs, and staying between our legs to try to stay safe. - Puppy class was awesome because it helped Murphy a lot to learn, focus and follow instructions, with other puppies around doing the same. It was also very fun to meet other puppies and owners. For Murphy, it was very important to meet other dogs to learn to be social and behave, especially during the lockdown. - Personal training was a great way for us to correct our behavior towards the dog, to make sure Murphy understood us and we understood Murphy. Danyel was really helpful and insightful. Murphy gained a lot in focus, confidence, and trust towards us as a result. Murphy goes to her placemat when we eat. If the bell rings, she goes to her placemat, instead of barking at the door (but she does look intensely at the door!). She places herself for us to put her leash before a walk. We go to restaurants with her. Yesterday, for the first time, we had a walk and training off-leash at the beach. We played fetch, she brings us the frisbee back and sit in front of us. More than anything else, she is a very balanced, confident dog, social with everyone, and eager to please. All of this thanks to Lori's method and Danyel's training. Thank you! read more

Lori Hamilton Dog Training - Pet Training Near Me - Los Gatos, California

I debated posting this as it has been months since we participated in this program (from April 19 - May 24, 2023), but I've had it in my drafts and ultimately felt it was necessary to share. My partner and I approached LHDT to assist with our 2 y/o mini poodle mix's excessive leash pulling and reactivity, which included: barking, lunging, and growling whenever she saw other dogs or small animals. During the initial evaluation, we met with Amy and gave her background into our dog and her issues, and watched her practice heeling with her. We were aware of the balanced training methods used by the company and understood the pros and cons to them, being open to the process since we had no previous experience with dog training and wanted to trust the professionals. We believed our dog would benefit most from the advanced training package, and had our first session 2.5 weeks after the evaluation (please note that LHDT has a "no refund" policy after signing their contract, so even if your first session isn't until weeks later, you will not be entitled to any refund). During the first session, Amy introduced us to using a slip lead and "popping" (quick yanks) our dog whenever she needed correction. Since this was an entirely new experience for ourselves and our dog, she was initially receptive and learned to heel quickly. However, our own experience with Amy was quite negative. We found Amy's communication style harsh and condescending, which added to the stress and anxiety during training; it didn't instill any confidence as a dog owner, and instead made focusing difficult when she was yelling out what we were doing wrong (or having us answer what we did wrong). We also did not find any of her corrections for us, as owners, easy, as there would never be any explanation to any of the methods. For instance, she would tell us to constantly "pop" our dog until she was corrected, but never told us how popping would be effective long-term, besides the obvious force used to restrain her. After some 1-on-1 sessions, we had a group session where Amy insisted we change up our equipment (from slip lead to prong collar), as our dog was no longer receptive to corrections or heeling by our side. We had our reservations, but Amy assured us that we could just give the prong collar a try during the next session, and that much of the negativity surrounding prong collars were a result of misuse. By the next session, we were more dismayed by the process, as we were told the prong collar would be used and fitted exactly the same as the slip, but that we wouldn't have to "pop" her as hard. Amy tried to reassure us that since our dog wasn't displaying any obvious signs of stress, she was okay, though we did notice her yawning and having full body "shake offs" constantly. During one part of the training, we were told to put our dog in a "down" position by tugging her leash down towards the ground; when we were unsuccessful, Amy came over to try herself, and I watched as she pulled the leash down much harder while our dog continued to resist; she then quipped how "stubborn" she was. Over the next week of using the prong collar, our dog would continue yawning and having full body shake offs ~20x every time we took her out, which we realized were signs of discomfort, but were told by Amy was "normal". Eventually, we wound up in an incident where our dog seemed to be choking and couldn't stop until we took her prong collar off; between that and confirming with our vet that these collars are placed in a sensitive area where their thyroid gland is, we finally made the decision to drop out of the program, with just 2 sessions remaining. Upon finally talking to Amy about our discomfort and concerns with training and desire to no longer proceed, she offered that our dog was a particularly special case and that other options such as boarding may be more effective. While my partner and I had once considered it, at this point, we no longer believed in their methodology, especially when we saw little overall improvement - the additional boarding cost being more than double what we initially paid for did not help. Amy then referred us to the owner, Lori, who would reach out to us about other options once she was available. Once both parties were able to schedule a day/time to speak, Lori informed us that she had to reschedule to the next day, which we were perfectly fine with. However, the call we waited for never came, and a week later we were left a voicemail by Lori asking if we still wanted to proceed with the discussion. At that point, we no longer wanted any relationship with the company due to the questionable methods, behavior, and unprofessionalism we had experienced thus far. While we do believe we gained some value out of this experience, we were ultimately left disappointed by the whole process and would not recommend this company, especially for small, sensitive, and highly reactive dogs. read more